Does grip strength on the unaffected side of patients with hemiparetic stroke reflect the strength of other ipsilateral muscles?
Jumpei Takahashi, Toru Nishiyama, Yoshimasa Matsushima
PMID 28210040WHAT IT FOUND
Grip strength on the unaffected side of stroke patients correlated significantly with the strength of seven other muscle groups.
Measuring grip alone may offer a quick estimate of overall unaffected-side strength, though correlations were moderate.
Key findings
01Grip strength on the unaffected side correlated positively and significantly with the isometric strength of all seven other muscle groups tested (p<0.01).
02Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.51 for hip flexors to 0.78 for elbow extensors, indicating moderate relationships between grip and other muscles.
03The study suggests that measuring grip strength can be an effective way to determine general strength on the unaffected side in patients with hemiparetic stroke.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 31 participants, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The design is cross-sectional and observational; it establishes correlation but does not prove that grip strength causes or predicts changes in other muscles. Muscle cross-sectional area was not measured, so the underlying cause of the strength differences remains unknown. The sample consisted of inpatients who could already sit and communicate, excluding those with more severe impairments or cognitive deficits.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume grip strength accurately predicts lower extremity strength. The correlation with hip and knee muscles was only moderate (0.51-0.55), meaning a strong grip does not guarantee strong legs on that side.